Roland Stika SV-15 compatability Question

[Martin Pearson]

You may struggle to find a driver for windows 8 for it, have you checked the Roland website?
Roland are a decent brand & their machines like some of the other known brands are workhorses.
I wouldn’t have thought a 15" machine was really big enough if you want to do the kind of work you have mentioned, 24" would be a minimum & £250 for a plotter isn’t much of a budget, might be better to save up a bit more, take it that is not your total budget as you will need software, tools, some vinyl & app tape to get you started.

[Dan King]

I have, doesnt show that it can be compatible, but i asked a seller on an auction site and he said he is running Windows 7, but i have no way of verifying this.

Ive heard this also, hence why im in the market for one.

Well small graphics for vehicles, signs, not on a large scale so i think this would be more than adequate size wise.

I would be looking for a second hand model, ive seen Roland go for less than that on auction sites.

No i will have funds for vinyl and app tape, the package im looking at has the rest.

Are there any second hand websites out there at all that you know of?

[Dan King]

Just had another look on the Roland website

I think it will be compatible for the Windows 8 application

http://support.rolanddga.com/_layouts/R … x?pm=SV-15

[Gert du Preez]

Martin,

Slightly off topic, but about 14 years ago me and a mate started a sign business. We wanted to buy a GX24 (I think) Roland, but all was out of stock. All they had was the Roland Stika STX8. That had a cut area of 250 wide, max 1000, long just to get started.

We used it for a few months, and actually managed fairly decent production. Bigger text was plotted on paper, joined, and cut by hand. Ditto for reflective.

I had one advantage, though. At that point I had 6 or 7 years experience already…..

[Dan King]

That’s good then I have been looking at the Stika model

What ball park figure do you think I should be looking at?

Seen a Stika 8 go for £150, Stika 15 go for £210. I’ve been offered a Stika 12 plus computer setup – whole business setup for £300.
Do these sound reasonable prices?

Any problems I should look out for?!
I’m personally going to start off small with small vehicle decals and bespoke patterns.

These would do the job wouldn’t they?!

[Gert du Preez]

I just made the post about the Stika to show it can, in a pinch, be used to make signs. Much like one can, in a pinch, walk across the Sahara…..

Rather look for a bigger, decent cutter in the used market. The Stika will restrict you, and frustrate you. It is FAR more difficult to make anything on it than a decent cutter. Like I said, I had about 7 years experience at the stage….

Another problem is, you credibility using such kit will be out the window, and other signmakers (rightly or wrongly) will consider you as a Fly-By-Night or Fleabay Warrior. With reason….

[Dan King]

Ok all valid comments and taken on board as I can see this perhaps being the case.

My question then is, what model would you be looking at 2nd hand on a larger scale and considering my budget may stretch to £300.

What would be a more suitable beginner to mid range piece of equipment?!

Bear in mind I probably won’t be producing decals bigger than say 200-300mm sq?!

[Dan King]

What are your thoughts on a Mutoh SC-650 or a SC-1300?!

As I have been offered these?